Windmill



'. (ModeL) 3 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

'S; B. AMENT. Windmill.

No. 235,333. Patented Dec. 14,1330.

N-PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYON. D G,

4 SheetsSheet 2.

(ModeL) s. E. AMENT.

Windmill.

Patented Dec. 14, I880.

N.FETERS, PMDTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

(Model.) v 4 sheets-sheen .3. S. E. AMENT.

Windmill.

No 235,333., Patented Dec. 14-, I880.

N-FETERS, PMOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

(ModeL) v l 4 sheets-shed 4.

S; E. AMENT.

' Windmill.

No. 235,333.] Ptented Dec. 14, 1880.

N. PETERS, PKOTO-LITNDGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

SYLVESTER E. AMENT, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

WINDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,333, dated December14, 1880.

Application filed August 4, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SYLvEs'rER E. AMENT, ofthe city of Aurora, county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented newand useful Improvements inWindmills, of which the followin g is aspecification.

Some of the more salient or general features of my invention may beenumerated as follows: I use what is, or may be, termed a solid verticalwheel and one rudder-aflexible one. The longitudinal center ofthe'rudder is in line with the longitudinal center of the wheel-shaftwhen the full face of the wheel is toward the wind. The axis of the mainvertical bearing of the wheel-shaft and of the rudder are all in thesame vertical plane. The rudder is hinged to the frame carrying thewheel-shaft, and is adapted, with the aid of other parts, to hold thefull face of the wheel toward the wind, and also to present the wheel atany angle to the wind,- from its thin edge to its full face, whenrequired. The hin ge-bearin gs of the rudder vertically are sufficientlydistant from each other to sustain a rudder whose authority the wheelwill not dispute. The two main vertical bearings are also verticallysufficiently distant from each other to sustain the apparatusadvantageously. The said wheel has three motions, one in whichvitrevolves or turns with apparatus upon main vertical axis, one inwhich it rotates upon its own or horizontal axis, and one in which itadvances and recedes a certain space by means of the sliding of theshaft upon which it is fixed. The rear end of the wheel-shaft is soconnected to the forward end of the rudder that when the latter swingsback the wheel and shaft slide forward, and when the rudder swingsforward the wheel and shaft slide back. Neither can move without theother, and which feature constitutes an'important part of theself-governing-principle. But one chain and one weight are used, thelatter located near the ground, where it may be easily reached andregulated. By means of an automatic lever, to which said chain andweight are attached, the mill is adapted to be stopped automatically byasurplus of wind or by a surplus of water, to be started again by theattendant. It is adapted, also, to be stopped automatically, asaforesaid, by means of a surplus of wind or of water, and

(ModeL) to be started again automatically (upon the subsidence ordisappearance of the said surplus of wind or of water) by means of theweight above mentioned. The lower part of the piston-rod is adjustableto any desired length of stroke. The rear end of the wheelshaft isinclosed, and has its end bearing in a socket, securing slight frictionand more perfeet retention of oil. The wind-surfaces of the wheel arecomposed of narrow slats tapering from the outer end toward the centerof the wheel, the rear edge of each passing a little behind the frontedge of its successor, and the front edge of each passing a littleforward of the rear edge of its predecessor, so that to an eye on a linewith the axis of the wheel-shaft the light between the peripheries ofthe wheel and its central circular space will be obstructed. Thenarrower the slats the thinner the wheel, and the thinner the wheel theless resistance offered to the wind when the edge of the wheel is turnedtoward it. A vertical wheel presents its thin edge, not only tohorizontal currents, but also to vertical and oblique currents of wind.A solid wheel is simple in construction, durable in use, and noiselessin operation.

Having thus indicated to some extent the result or object of myinvention, I will now proceed to give a more detailed description,reference being had also to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1, Sheet 1, is a plan view. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a central verticalsection. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a side elevation. Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is afront view of the detached part; and Fig. 5, Sheet 4, is a side view ofa prominent feature and some of its connections.

The apparatus is represented in this instance as being mounted upon atower, A, of four posts, which latter converge toward and unite at thetop. The two main vertical bearings B and C are contained within theupper part of the said tower, one, B, at the top, and the other, C, somedistance below the top.

The upper bearing, B, has a flange, which beneath projects over andrests upon the top of A, and above has a faced surface surroundedfinally by a dishing rim, B, to retain oil, and upon which faced surfacestands or rests the faced surface of the shoulder D of the main frame FD.

The lower bearing, 0, when the apparatus is supported upon four posts,(but diil'erently as to lugs and bolts when supported upon one or lessthan four,) has also a flange with a dishing rim, 0, to retain oil, andfour lugs. A bolt, 0, formed at a right angle near its head, passesvertically through a slot in each lug, thence outward in a horizontaldirection through a cleat, 0, each cleat resting upon two posts, boltrunning between.

A portion of the upper end of the wroughtmetal pipe D is cast solid intothe lower part of the main casting F, the lower part of the said pipe Dbeing contained within the main vertical bearings B and C withsufficient looseness to allow the same to turn therein.

The shoulder D, terminating the lower end of the cast part of the mainframe F 1), stands or rests upon the faced surface within the dishingflange of the upper end of the upper bearing, B, as aforesaid.

The cast part F of the main frame F D divides at the top of the pipe Dand unites again, twice near the middle and once again at the to 'llhesheave S is situated between the two middle unitin gs described.

Through the two horizontal bearings F F in the upper part of the mainframe F I) is inserted the wheel-shaft G, upon the forward end of whichis fixed the hub or spider G, and to which latter the arms and sectionsof the wind-surfaces of the wheel are attached when the parts of thewheel are applied together, but which, for obvious reasons, are notnecessary to be represented in this connection. The said hub G may besecured upon G by means of a shoulder behind it, and a set-screwinserted parallel with the axis of G, between G and G, half of the screwembedded in each. The rear end of the said wheel-shaft G is incloscd inand has its end bearing in the socket II of the casting H. The twoscrews h h, one on each side of H, enter a rectangular groove cut uponthe shaft G, near the rear end thereof, and which screws thus insertedprevent the parts G and H from slipping apart.

The blanks h, f, and f represent oilboxes.

Between the two horizontal bearings F F, and upon the wheel-shaft G, isfixed the eccentric-disk E, whose bearing upon G is of sutiicientlooseness to allow the latter to slip through it freely back and forth,and which, with its hub ends, fills the space between the said bearingsF F, with the exception of only suflicient play to allow the same toturn thereml The set-screws e e in the said hubs of E are for thepurpose of taking up the wear between G and E.

The peculiar wedge I, Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is formed in this case by weldingone edge of a piece of metal to one side of the shank of a bolt, andwhich is employed in the slot E, which latter exists in and through thedisk E from one side to the other, and through one side of the hub ofthe disk, as represented. Inserting the wedge from one side and puttingthe nut on again upon the other,the wedge is slipped down and the nutscrewed up to keep it in place.

The lower edge of the wedge I sets in a groove or channel cut lengthwisein the shaft G, and which groove is of sufficient length to allow thesaid shaft to slide freely backward and forward the requisite distance,and is of suffieient depth to allow the said wedge I to be set in totake up the wear. The lower edge of the said wedge is made slightlywedgeshape, and the groove cut to correspond, and by which means thewear, as aforesaid, ma y be constantly taken up.

It will be seen by the sectional view of the eccentric-disk E (shown inFig. 2, Sheet 2,) that instead of its being cast solid it is casthollow, which hollow space is for an oil-chamber, E, and between whichlatter and the bearing in the periphery of E, at or about equaldistances from each other, there are three large holes, e e 6', eachfilled with a plug of wood, through the pores of which oil is suppliedto the bearing aforesaid in the periphery of E. When the oil-chamber E"is to be filled a hole through one of the plugs of wood and anotherthrough the eccentric-strap may be brought in communication with eachother, which may be indicated by file-marks on the outside of eccentricstrap and disk. The hole should be in the plug that passes over theshaft G first, starting with the plug opposite G down. The holes ashould be made slightly tapering, the largest ends outward.

The ends of the eccentric-straps J J are secured together by the upperends of the outside pitman-rods, j j, collars beneath and nuts above, asrepresented, and to the lower ends of which latter is secured thecross-head K, collars above and nuts beneath, as represented.

The pipe L receives the collar L, which slips on at a good fit and restsupon a shoulder on L. The upper end of the pipe L is then thrust throughan aperture or slot in the middle of the said cross-head K, when ittakes the nut L, which is screwed on and the upper end of the pipespread at different points to keep the nut from working off. The saidcross-head K has raised bearing-points above and below at the middle,which prevent its upper and under surfaces from touching anywhere exceptat the middle; and the said slot or aperturein K, through which the pipeL is inserted, is sufliciently small or shortened at the middle, andsufficiently lengthened above and be low in the direction of the lengthof K, to prevent the head K from getting away to any considerable extentfrom its central bearingpoints on L and L. But in putting the partstogether the pipe L passes first through its vertical bearing M, andthen through the collar L, cross-head K, &c.

The bearing M sits upon the upper end of the pipe D and castingsurrounding it, a portion thereof extending down into the pipe D adistance, as represented. It has an oil-chamber, m, surrounding the pipeL, with oil-holes leading from it to L. The bearing Mis strongly securedto its place by the accuracy with which it is fitted to the inside of D,and by means of the two arms m at, one on each side, situated directlyover corresponding arms m m cast upon F, and a couple of links, 112' m,one on each side, dropped over m m and driven on beneath m m to holdthem together.

The upper end of the chain S is connected, by means of a clevis in thisinstance, to the web or brace of F at s, whence it is carried around thesheave S in the rear end of the casting H, thence through an aperture inthe rear part of F and over the sheave S, and thence down into the pipeL and attached to a long weight therein. But the meeting of the weightwith the lower end of the chain S within the pipe L, as represented inFigs. 2 and 3, is for the purpose only of saving space. In thefield-machine or working device it is carried down through the pipe Land down to a certain point in the tower, and attached to a lever, towhich a weight is attached, as represented in Fig. 5, Sheet 4,hereinafter described.

In the working device or field-machine the wind-surface or vane part ofthe rudder R is of thin matched stufi' arranged vertically in a saw-kerfor incision in the longitudinal centers of two bars of wood, the latterextending to the rear end of the vane part and forward to within alittle distance from the hinge-arms of F. The upper bar of wood isbolted to the upper side, and the lower bar to the lower side, of theirrespective hinge-straps R It, and which latter extend forward of thehinge-hooks ff, turning atff, in this instance, to the right at an angleof forty-five degrees or thereahout. The ends of the vertical pipe P,inclosed between the forward ends of the said hinge-straps R It, enterthe latter a slight distance, and the bolt P, passing through the endsof R B and through the said pipe P, secures the parts strongly andrigidly together, securing also the said hinge-straps R R upon the saidhinge-hooks f f. The said pipe P stands in the slot H of the casting H,the leaf or part of said casting containing said slot resting upon acollar, 19, the latter fixed rigidly upon P, as represented. Thehinge-hooksff should be of wrought-iron and cast solid in the hingearmsof F.

The volute wire springs N and are attached, the spring N to the underside of the upper, and the spring N to the upper side of the lower,hinge-arm of F, their centers in line with the axis of the hinge-hooks ff. The outer end of each is turned into ahook,-which hooks catch uponthe pipe P. The inner end of each should turn outward at a right angleto the plane of spring and enter F, and coil from thence in a volutecurve or spiral about the inner end of their respective hinge-hooks f f,beneath a nut and washer upon the latter to keep them in place. The saidspringsN N fold the wheel and rudder together when there is insufficientwind for the purpose.

When the lever attachment W X W X Z, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is connected tothe working parts, W and X are pivoted to the tower in what may betermed the third story thereof, (when the mill is mounted upon a tower,)the lever W pivoted at w and the lever X at m. The rear ends of thelevers W and X are connected to each other by means of the bar Z, theupper end of latter being jointed to the rear end of W, and the lowerend of same beingjointed to the rear end of X, as represented. And,again, the lower end of what may be termed the upper section, W, of thevertical sliding rods W X is jointed to the forward end of the lever W,and the upper end of what may he termed the lower section, X, of thesaid vertical sliding rods W X is jointed to the forward end of thelever X. The parts W and X are continued in length to whatever extentisnecessary, and are carried in guides-wooden ones usuall vlocated atdifferent points up and down in the tower, and in which they (W X) slideupward and downward. The upper end of W is coupled to one side of thelower end of the pipe L, the latter continued in length at lower end farenough, of course, to prevent upper end of W from coming in contact withlower end of pipe 1). The lower end of X is made attachable to pump-rodor other device to be operated. The stroke of X is lengthened orshortened as the hole a; is placed at a greater or less distance fromthe middle of X toward Z. An unusually long stroke, for one thing, issometimes desirable in piston of pump-cylinder of great length and smalldiameter, employed usually in wells constituted simply of pipedriveninto ground, or dropped into hole drilled through rock. Theprecise length of stroke desired is readily obtained. The device alsopermits the placing of center of tower over center of mill.

The sliding or automatic lever V (represented in a detached state inFig. 1, Sheet 1, and represented in its working relations in Fig. 5,Sheet 4, particularly to G and R) is pivoted to the tower, in afield-machine, in what may be termed the "second story thereof, when themill is mounted upon a tower.

The standard or frame Q Q Q is simply for the purpose of. sustaining Vand G and R in their working relations.

The shaft G is represented in Fig. 5 only in its capacity to moveendwise.

The chain S (represented by a chain in Fig. 1, and by a cord in Fig. 5)will still be designated as the chain S.

Sheaves are employed in the field-machine to relieve the friction at theangles turned by rope or chain, but which in Fig. 5 are dispensed with.The said lever V is pivoted at 0 upon a cylindrical arm, in thisinstance Q, one end of which latter is secured to the frame Q. The saidlever V is kept in place upon the said arm Q by a staple-like device, Q,the legs of which pass obliquely through Q, one each side of V, and theupper or horizontal part of which serves the purpose of a stop to V,limiting the upward movement of the outer end of latter. The lower endof the chain S is attached to the said lever V at v.

The holes v a, one at each end of V, are to attach a rope to, said ropeto extend down to attendants hand to operate lever in part.

The rod V is crooked near each end at a right angle, or nearly so, andthe ends passed up through the lever V and secured by a nut each, asrepresented.

The link to which the weight V"is attached is adapted to slide back andforth upon the rod V from one end or corner to the other, and to beretained at the ends, especially the outer end, when required.

The sub-leverY is secured to the upper side of the outer end of thelever Vupon the outer end of the rod V, near its middle, and at itsforward end upon a pin or dowel fixed rigidly in V, as represented.

One end of the rope Y is attached to the outer end of the sub-lever Y,the other end carried upward, thence in a horizontal direction throughthe supports or guides q q, thence down to and attached to the thinweight Y, representing the bucket, which latter, in the field-machine,is suspended within the well and adapted to be filled by surplus ofwater through pipe leading from tank at high-water mark.

It will be perceived that the mill is turned from the wind when theouter end of the lever V is elevated, and is turned toward the wind whenthe outer end of V is lowered. Now the outer end of V may be elevated byattendant, by wind, or by water, and maybe lowered by attendant or byweight.

It will be seen that the weight V performs two ofiices. It is not only aweight to the lever V, but is alsoa weight to the sub-leverY; but theleverage it has upon the chain S is very difl'erent from what it hasupon the rope Y. Its leverage upon the latter is intended to be onlysufiicient to a little more than balance the weight and friction of thebucket and rope Y Y, and thereby require but a small amount of water inthe bucket to elevate the outer end of the sub-lever Y, while it mayrequire an additional amount suflicient to fill a capacious bucket toelevate the outer end of V. It depends upon the weight of V and theforce at the time of the wind. When sufficient water has run into thebucket to overcome the gravity of the lever V with weight attached theouter end of V rises from the lowest point to which it is permitted bythe chain S to descend to the highest point it is permitted by the stopQ to be elevated. The first thing elevated, however, is the outer end ofthe sub-lever Y, which movement of latter elevates the outer end of therod V into contact (at a certain remote period, subsequent to whichjuncture V also begins to rise) with the underside of V, between the twopins 17 v, with the upper end of the link V be hind them, in whichrelative position the parts remain during the ascent, stoppage, anddescent of the outer end of V. When, during said stoppage, suflicientwater has leaked out of small hole provided in bottom of bucket theweight V draws the od'ter end of Vdown again. If during said stoppagethe outer end of V comes to be sustained by wind through medium of chainS, and continues to be for a suflicient time, the weight V willeventually be released and slide to the forward end, where it remainsuntil outer end of V is lowered by attendant. It the outer end of thelever V is elevated by wind instead of by water, or by attendant insteadof by water, or by wind, the weight V is permitted to slide to theforward end and there remains until the outer end of V is lowered againby attendant. By tying the outer end of Y down with small piece of ropeto V the weight V is allowed to slide to the forward end, not only whenthe outer end of V is elevated by wind or by attendant, but also when itis elevated by water, and at which point the said weight remains untilthe outer end of V is lowered by attendant, when it slides back to therear or outer end again. By tying, or by some means securing, the weightV at the outer end of V the weight V is retained at the outer end duringthe ascent, stoppage, and descent of the outer end of V, when the latteris elevated by water, by wind, or by attendant. With the rope Y detachedthe outer end of the lever V may be elevated by wind or by attendant,and lowered by attendant or by weight, as before.

When the mill is permitted to turn from the wind, and when outer end ofV for that purpose has been elevated by water, the outer end of V, withweight V", remains in said elevated position, and mill remains out ofwind until enough water has leaked out of small hole provided in bottomof bucket to enable gravity of weight V to automatically lower outer endof V, and thereby turn mill toward wind again to till again the tank,and then again the bucket, and so on. But when it is desired that themill may be thrown out of wind by water, to remain out until thrown intowind again by attendant, the outer end of the sub-lever Y may be tieddown to the lever V, whereby the Weight V will be allowed to slide tothe forward end of its sliding rod V, which disposition of parts retainsouter end of Vat its elevation, and mill remains out of wind untildradvn into wind again by attendant, as aforesai The weight V should beof sufficient heft to hold the mill in as strong wind as it is desiredto run in. When the wind becomes stronger than that the outer end of thelever V is elevated, and the weight V (with Ytied down, or with Ydetached) slides to the opposite end and to the opposite side of thepivot v, thereby relieving the chain S entirely of any of the gravity ofthe lever V or parts belonging thereto, and which stops the mill, to bestarted only again by the attendant. If, however, it is desired that themill be brought automatically into wind again each time soon as itssurplus force has subsided, it may be done by tying or otherwise securing the weight V at the outer end of its sliding rod V. The weight,however, can be made heavy enough to hold the mill in any wind it mightbe desired to run-or, perhaps, might better say, stop in-for safety ofwell-coverin g, pumpfixtures, 850.; but the greatest point of utilityexists in the fact that the mill is safe from being whipped out of windby the wind and whipped into wind again by the Weight alternatelythroughout an entire storm of gusts or heavy blows alternated by shortrecesses of calms; but, on the contrary, the first force of wind thatoccurs that is strong enough to throw the mill out of wind places it outof danger, especially so far as whipping is concerned. It obviates thedifficnlty of whipping entirely.

The inertia of the parts and the momentum of their movements whenovercome suddenly, and not only suddenly but rapidly in succession, donot, to say the very least, do the machine any good.

When the wind, through the medium of the shaft G, chain S, &c., becomesstrong enough to overcome or elevate the weight V below, the wheel andshaft G G are carried back until the hub of G strikes the forward end ofthe bearing F, which movement, by means of the connection between therear end of the shaft G and the forward part of the rudder R,(hereinbefore described,) throws the rudder R around parallel, or nearlyso, to the disk of the wheel, as indicated by the dotted outline, Fig.1, Sheet 1, in which relative position of parts the wind turns theapparatus around on main vertical axis until the edge of the wheel ispresented to the wind. When the force of the wind subsides sufficientlyto give to said weight the preponderance of government (assuming thatthe said weight is secured for the time being at the outer end of V) theweight, by means of the chain S, attached as described, carries thewheel and shaft forward again until the casting H comes in contact withthe rear end of the bearin g F, which brings the rudder R, by means ofthe connection between it and the shaft G- described, around back againinto line, or nearly so, with the shaft G, and at right angles, ornearly so, to the disk of the wheel G, in which relative position ofparts the wind turns the apparatus around on main vertical bearings oraxis aforesaid in the tower until the full face of the wheel ispresented to the wind. Both operations, however, are in reality beingperformed at the same time-that is, the turning of the rudder upon itshinge and the entire apparatus upon its main vertical bearing, whetherto or from the wind.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the main vertical bearingsB and G, chambers B and G, pipe D, shoulder D, and casting F,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the bearing M, chamber m, arms m m, arms m m,links 111/ m, pipe L, pipe D, and casting F, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination of the cross-head K, pipe L, collar L, and nut L,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination of the wedge 1, disk E, and shaft G, substantially asand for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination of the wedge 1, bolt 1, disk E, shaft G, and screws 0e, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination of a wind-wheel, G, wind-wheel shaft G, disk E,chamber E, and eccentric-straps J J, substantially as and for thepurpose hereinbefore set forth.

7. The combination of a wind-wheel, G, wind wheel shaft G, disk E,chamber E, one or more apertures, e, and eccentric-straps J J,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

8. The combination of the chain S, sheaves S S, casting H, shaft G, andframe F D, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

9. The combination of the casting H, screws h h, sheave S, and shaft G,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

10. The combination of a wind-wheel, G, wind wheel shaft G, socket H,chain S, one or more sheaves S S, weight V, frame F D, and flexiblerudder R, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

11. The combination of the rudder 1t, hingestraps It R, pipe P, and bolt1?, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

12. The combination of the rudder R, straps R R, casting H, slot H,bearing P, sheaves S S, chain S, wheel and shaft G G, and frame F D,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

13. The volute springs N N, in combination with the frame F D, rudder R,and sliding wheel and shaft G G, substantially as and for the purposehereinbefore set forth.

14. The combination of the two levers W X, connecting-bar Z, andsections W X of the vertical sliding rods W X, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth.

15. The combination of the lever V, rod V, chain S, and weight V,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

16. The combination of the lever V, rod V,

chain S, weight V, and sub-lever Y, snbstaning rod V, through means ofwhich the mill tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set may bestopped automatically by a surplus of forth. wind, to be started againby the attendant,

17. The combination of the lever V, rod V, substantially as and for thepurpose herein- 5 chain S, weight V, sub-lever Y, stop Q, and before setforth.- 20

holes '0 v v v y, substantially as and for the E 20. The combination ofthe main vertical purpose hereinbefore set forth. bearings B and 0,frame F D, advancing and 18. Alever, V, weight V, chain S, andslidreceding solid wheel G, and flexible rudder ing rod V, bucket Y.rope Y, and sub-lever R, substantially as and for the purpose here' 10Y,by means of which thelmill tmay be stopped inbefore set forth.

automatically by a snrp us 0 wind or by a surplus of water, to bestarted again by attend- SYLVESTER AMENT' ant or by weight,substantially as and for Witnesses: the purpose hereinbefore set forth.1 F. A. MUNsoN, 15 19. Alever, V, weight V, chain S, and slid- J. M.STEELE.

